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Van Zandt’s choices of duet partners is inspired, and many of these songs gain new life. Rather than the grave-robbing repackaging that’s destined to follow any artist’s death, this album marks a crucial addition to the Van Zandt legacy. His duet with Emmylou Harris on “If I Needed You” contains brisk, smiling affection. The inclusion of Freddy Fender, Rubin Ramos, Doug Sahm, and Augie Meyer gives a bilingual version of “Pancho & Lefty” truly windswept stateliness (with some gorgeous, understated horns). “Waiting Around to Die” boasts a more robust sound, but Calvin Russell matches Van Zandt stanza for stanza in capturing the song’s sense of resigned personal desolation. “Kathleen” sparkles with delicate piano and absolutely transcendent harmonies courtesy of The Chromatics.


Probably most fitting of all are the two duets with Willie Nelson. Nelson and Merle Haggard scored a huge hit with “Pancho & Lefty”, and Nelson’s weathered voice perfectly complements Van Zandt’s material. If Van Zandt had never sung a note, he could have acted as Nelson’s version of Bernie Taupin and country would have still been changed forever. The pair sound like buddies strumming at a picnic on “No Lonesome Tune”. On their bleak version of “Marie” (which Nelson also reprises on the recent Van Zandt tribute Poet), the two effortlessly trade lyrics, and Nelson delivers the song’s soul-crushing conclusion (“She just rolled over and went to Heaven / My little boy safe inside”) with fitting matter-of-fact grief.

Tracklist:
01 - If I Needed You (with Emmylou Harris).flac
02 - Pancho & Lefty (with Freddy Fender, Rubin Ramos & The Texas Revolution...).flac
03 - Waiting Around To Die (with Calvin Russell).flac
04 - Blue Wind Blew (with Jerry Jeff Walker).flac
05 - Kathleen (with the Chromatics).flac
06 - No Lonsome Tune (with Willie Nelson).flac
07 - Brother Flower (with Kimmie Rhodes).flac
08 - Two Girls (with Doug Sahm).flac
09 - Marie (with Willie Nelson).flac
10 - Quicksilver Daydreams Of Maria (with Freddy Fender, Rubin Ramos & The Texas Revolution...).flac
11 - Snowin' On Raton (with James McMurtry).flac
12 - At My Window (with Kathy Mattea).flac

Enjoy